. >>> that is our top story, the looming fiscal cliff and what appears to be a new sense of optimism about finding a path around it. there isn't much time. just three days for the president and congressional republicans to find common ground on taxes and spending. for the latest let's go to chief correspondent at the white house major garrett. good morning. >> good morning, rebecca. president obama met with the four top leaders yesterday. he met for just over an hour. now, earlier in the fiscal cliff talks, meetings like this had tended to be tense and nonproductive but this meeting gave rise to hopes of a last-minute deal. for the first time in weeks president obama reported genuine progress to averting some part of the so-called fiscal cliff. >> i'm modestly in agreement we'll achieve. >> they're now chasing a much smaller deal than originally sought. the final product if there is one will not include trillions in debt reduction or federal spending or tax code reform. it won't even include across the board spending cuts. it will focus on tax rates and a few spending items. >> that'